Ships | War History

The Dramatic Arrival of the German U-boat SM U-118 On a British Beach

Crowd gathered around the beached SM U-118

In the aftermath of the First World War, a remarkable event unfolded in Britain, causing a stir among military and civilian circles: the unexpected arrival…

Cargo from German Ship Sunk During WWII Washing Up On American Beaches

Remnants of a sunken ship on the ocean floor

Several tons of cargo went down with German ships that were sunk by enemy action or intentionally scuttled during the Second World War. Rarely, however,…

National Emergency Command Post Afloat: The ‘Floating White Houses’ for Times of Nuclear War

USS Wright (CC-2) at sea + Mushroom cloud rising into the sky

During the 1960s, America’s Continuity of Operations plans included the National Emergency Command Post Afloat (NECPA). It was one of three parts – airborne, ground…

A WWII-Era Mystery for the Ages – What Happened to the French Submarine Surcouf?

French submarine Surcouf at sea

Although they weren’t known as a naval superpower, the French still built one of the most impressive submarines of the Second World War. In fact,…

USS Wisconsin (BB-64): The American Battleship That ‘Lost Her Temper’ In Korea

USS Wisconsin (BB-64) docked at port

The USS Wisconsin (BB-64) was an Iowa-class vessel that served with the US Navy on and off from 1944-91. She was the second-last of her…

Research Team Discovers Wreck of WWII-Era Japanese Ship That Sank With Over 1,000 POWs

Montevideo Maru at sea

The Australian government has announced that the wreck of the Japanese auxiliary ship Montevideo Maru has been located in the South China Sea. The announcement…

Century-Old ‘Experimental’ Submarine Discovered Off the Coast of Long Island

Defender dry-docked

A “experimental” submarine dating back well over a century has been discovered off the coast of Long Island by a team of divers. Known as…

USS Harder (SS-257): The WWII-Era Submarine That Took Out Five Enemy Destroyers In Four Days

USS Harder (SS-257) sailing close to shore + USS Harder (SS-257) at sea

The USS Harder (SS-257), a Gato-class submarine, served in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. She was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and…

The History of the US Navy’s Canceled World War II-Era Battleships

Model of a South Dakota-class battleship between two supports

The Second World War produced many legendary battleships – Bismarck, HMS Hood (51), Yamato, Roma (1940) and USS Iowa (BB-61). That being said, the conflict…

NR-1: The Smallest Nuclear Submarine In US Military History

NR-1 anchored at port

Submarines are typically built to house a sizeable crew, given the amount of time they’re expected to serve beneath the ocean’s surface. There was one,…

The 50-Year Battle to Clear Charles McVay III In the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35)

USS Indianapolis (CA-35) at sea + Military portrait of Charles McVay III

The USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was a Portland-class heavy cruiser commissioned by the US Navy in 1932. She was the flagship of Scouting Force 1 prior to the…

The USS Lexington Wreck Was Discovered Over 75 Years After the Battle of the Coral Sea

USS Lexington (CV-2) at sea

The sinking of the USS Lexington (CV-2) was one of many to occur during the Second World War, and her wreck has remained on the seafloor…